Botanical Gardens in the Rocky Mountain Region

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

So we all know about the botanical gardens in Denver and Cheyenne....but what about the rest? Are there any others that you draw inspiration from, big or small?

The Gardens at Spring Creek* in Fort Collins is only 13 years old, but it's getting better and better. They're going to be adding a conservatory with native butterflies in the next year or so. If you're ever up this way, it's definitely worth a look! There's demonstration veggie gardens, a water garden, a rock garden, a children's garden, and more: http://www.fcgov.com/gardens/our-gardens

(*I just wish they'd named it the Fort Collins Botanical Gardens, as tons of people -- even people living in town! -- have no idea that it's here. "The Gardens at Spring Creek" sounds more like a nursery or garden center.)

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polygonum_tinctorium

6 years ago

The Betty Ford Alpine garden in Vail is nice -- lots of inspiration for people who live at high elevations and/or who like rock gardens.

http://bettyfordalpinegardens.org/

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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
6 years ago
I'll be driving through Vail in June. I wonder if I could coerce a teenage boy into letting me stop there! Ha!
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Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
6 years ago
Has anyone here been to Hudson Gardens in Littleton? Is it worth the drive?
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
6 years ago
Laura, I keep saying I'm going to go there but never seem to make it!
marshaaa (5b CO, Castle Rock)
6 years ago
Kendrick Lake Park in Lakewood has about an acre of xeriscaped gardens. While it is quite small, it's a good place to visit if you're in the area. It is featured in a video on the plantselect.org website.
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
6 years ago
popmama -- I have a whole list of Colorado places that I've never gotten around to visiting (Sand dunes, Dinosaur Ntl. monument, Pikes Peak) even though I've lived here since I was nine year old. So I thought, "Why not add a few other places I'd like to see someday?" Heh.

Hadn't heard of that one, marshaaa. Thanks!
Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Laura, I don't know how much this will help, but here's a (very) little info about Hudson Gardens! I got a tour of the place back in 90-something, shortly before it officially opened, and I was really impressed with the place. Then, more than 5 years later, I had out-of-state company who wanted to go to DBG and I talked them into going to Hudson instead! When I went back that time I was really disappointed--but, in fairness, it was something like early May, so there really was VERY little to see yet--it was simply too early for much of anything! There were some Pulsatilla, Pasque flowers, blooming!!!

Now, more than 10 years later I'd kinda like to go back sometime, in SUMMER, to see the place again--but I live WAY on the "wrong end" of town, so don't know if that will ever happen or not. I'd be inclined to recommend that if you're not "too" far away from them, and you have time sometime--in summer!--that it would be worth going there to have a good look around! They do have an interesting "wetlands" area that I thought was pretty cool--and something that DBG doesn't have. Overall, unless there have been significant changes at Hudson over the years, DBG is a lot bigger--or at least has a lot more "packed in," and, unless it's changed, there's no kind of a conservatory or other "inside" displays at Hudson.

If you ever go, come back here and let us know what you think of the place!

Skybird

P.S. Another National Monument you've probably never heard of is Chimney Rock N. M., just west of Pagosa! It's Anasazi ruins ON TOP of a mountain! And the views "from the top" are spectacular!
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
6 years ago
I'll definitely give a report if I go, Skybird. :) Chimney Rock sounds awesome!
ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
6 years ago
Im not sure Hudson would be worth the drive fron Ft. Collins, but if you were down this way anyhow and had some time maybe. They do have some good concerts in the summer sometimes though.
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
6 years ago
It's interesting, how most botanical gardens use non-plant related events to stay afloat. Concerts, big name sculptors, winter light displays, etc. The GASC are building a theater venue this year as part of their "great lawn" expansion.

Come to think of it, didn't Elitches start out as a botanical garden, way back before they moved to the new location?. (That was 20 plus years ago but I still think of it as "new." Ha.) I seem to remember seeing rose bushes and lovely old trees interspersed with the rides when I was there as a kid.

Off to put some plants in the ground,

L
stace_s
6 years ago
I took my daughter to Hudson Gardens to take her senior pictures last June. It was beautiful, lots of great landscaping, but nowhere near the splendor of DBG. As a bonus, it's FREE! (DBG is $12.50 per person.) I'm with Zach, if you were down here anyway, it's definitely worth the visit, but probably not worth a trip from Fort Collins.
susanb92
6 years ago
My husband and I just had the opportunity to enjoy the Yampa River Botanic Park in Steamboat Springs. Construction on the Park began in 1995 and it opened in 1997. There are 13 gardens within the Park, and the best part is it's free! It's not a short drive, and definitely worth it if you make it.
Alyssa C
6 years ago
The CSU trial gardens are fun to visit, if you're near Fort Collins. They are mostly annuals, but there's a small Plant Select garden with perennials. Since their main purpose is to test new varieties, it's not a place to go for design or layout ideas. But it's fun to see what different nurseries are introducing, and how they grow in our Colorado climate!
steviewonder
6 years ago
I second Susan's recommendation. Yampa Botanic Garden in Steamboat is worth a visit.

Botanical Gardens in the Rocky Mountain Region

polygonum_tinctorium

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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)

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Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)

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Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
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Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado

Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
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ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado

Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
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susanb92

Alyssa C

steviewonder

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